misha2

Here would be my dream -- Flexible days for family Spanish classes for all levels at a gorgeous boutique beach resort ( Caribbean side of Costa Rica or Puerto Rico or anything else)

Afternoons would offer scuba. eco tours, cooking classes. Does something like this exist?

I have looked into some stuff in CR, however they require a week and have mixed reviews.

suze

I'll be interested to read the answers. That's a LOT of activities for only a 4-night trip!!

hopefulist

Belize is out since it's national language is English - no Spanish schools there.

Check out the Central American Spanish School on Roatán, Honduras:
http://www.ca-spanish.com/roatan/roatan.html

I've attended their La Ceiba and Utila sites and had excellent teachers and, in La Ceiba, homestay. Depending on how full they are they might be willing to arrange a shorter duration stay, though a week is the norm. Scuba and eco tours (you can take a taxi to Carambola Reserve for great hiking and there's a tourist/nature park near) would be easy. If you ask well in advance for cooking classes they can likely set something up for you. 1-on-1 instruction is the norm so different levels and ages isn't a problem. The director, Rafael Linares, is really wonderful. He's based in La Ceiba so you might not have the chance to meet him but if you contact the school, tell them Stacey in Oregon says hi.

Roatán will be a lousy immersion environment since English is so widely spoken, but the West Bay beach is lovely and diving is great and affordable.

I've pasted my photo/travelogue link below. Let me know if you have questions.
http://flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

hopefulist

Must add that 4 nights = 3 days and that's sort of a tragically short time to spend on Roatán. Maybe better to wait till the time/money continuum will allow a longer stay?

Also, if you're ever interested in an immersion Spanish study experience, let me know. I have lots of great advice (at least I think it's great) for studying in Latin America.

WillTravel

Hopefullist, I'm certainly interested in your advice. What do you suggest?

hopefulist

When and how long? Interests in addition to studying Spanish? Guided or independent? Country preferences?

I'm leading a group to San Cristóbal de las Casas in the mountains of Chiapas, México for 2 weeks starting the last week-end in June - should be a great trip. I picked San Cristóbal for it's beauty and history, the cooler climate, the strong indigenous presence, and access to major Maya ruins. We'll live in homestays and study 4 hours a day and enjoy activities like village visits, museums, hiking, salsa dance lessons, and traditional cooking classes the other half of the day with a week-end visit to the ruins of Palenque. I offer 10 quarter hours of college credit for those who are interested, usually about 1/2 of my participants are. I don't make money on the group trip; it's a mission of mine to get more educators speaking Spanish so that's how it started. I also am able to offer credit for folks who travel independently for study to other countries I've established programs for; here's the website for all of the above: http://liveandlearninlatinamerica.blogspot.com/

I have attended a number a wonderful Spanish schools in Honduras and Guatemala where the prices are very reasonable and 1-on-1 instruction is the norm. My favorites are the Cooperativa School in San Pedro La Laguna on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala and the Ixbalanque School in Copán Ruinas, Honduras. I consider the directors to be dear friends both places and have started a scholarship project in San Pedro with the help of my friends. School links can be found from the link above and I've pasted links to my scholarship project and my photo/blog/travelogue site below. Let me know how I can help - happy trails!
http://becaproject.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

WillTravel

Hopefullist, that sounds very interesting. I'm doing just 5 days at Escuela Mexicana in Guanajuato this month, but I'd like to explore this idea more in alternate locations.

misha2

Wow! What great options. Perhaps I am being overly ambitious for this trip. Maybe I'll have to have a quick beach getaway.

Hopefulist, do you know of any good Spanish immersion camps in the States for young teens? I've heard of Concordia, but are there others?

hopefulist

I'm not familiar with them - sorry. My guess is the cost, including airfare and ground transport, would be many times what you can find in Guatemala or Honduras without the amazing cultural immersion. Nothing in the US can compete with the cultural immersion or the cost of $150-$200/week for 1-on-1 tutoring, daily activities, and full room and board with a local family. With young teens an adult would have to travel along, though. Sorry I can't help more!

hopefulist

WillTravel - I hope you'll post a trip report! Let me know how I can help in the future.

suze

These are all GREAT places and great idea, but imho you need more than 4 days total time to make the trip worthwhile.

With only 4 days (as mentioned that's really only 3 days on the ground, running!) I'd suggest just fly into one of the resort destinations in Mexico (assuming you are from the US?). Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas are the ones I know and like. Playa del Carmen's nice on the Caribbean side.

misha2

I think I will do that and explore deals. Thank you all so much for your help!

qwovadis

If you only have 4 days do a nice beach getaway

www.bookit.com cheap package options.

Make more time for an immersion program

when you have the time or maybe do

Rosetta Stone...

sporadic spanish classes over a few days

will accomplsh nada long term.

Have fun,

raulpanama

Mmmmmm
Bocas del Toro in Panama.
The archipielago offers Boutique hotels.
There is amazing scuba and snorkeling.
Nature trails also.
You should contact www.senderopanama.com, I know some of their guides and I am pretty sure they could come up with something tailor to your needs.
If not, try to contact Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro.

fishee

hopefulist -- thanks so much for sharing this info. i'm also interested in a 3-4 week program -- have you heard any feedback about the CELMRAZ language program? The program you work with looks like considerably more comfortable living conditions which does appeal to me.

hopefulist

I've read about the CELMRAZ program. I can't speak personally to the quality of teaching at one school over another, but am not comfortable leading a group to a program that is controversial in nature. The Zapatista's EZLN is fascinating to learn about but for me that's going to be more along the lines of the book entitled "Never Again a World Without Us" than studying in their Spanish school.